This paper presents a baseline study of the
development of turbulent flow separation for controlling aerodynamic phenomena,
especially in the design of the vehicle body. The purpose of this study was to
analyze the performance of synthetic jet actuators (SJAs) as one of the tools
that can be used in reducing the flow controller separation area on the bluff
body model of the vehicle. To get maximum results in the performance of the
SJA, this research starts with characterizing the actuator, including changes
in the shape of the cavity and orifice diameter. Cavity shapes tested were
half-ball (B), tube (T) and cone (K), while orifice diameters of 3, 5 and 8 mm
were examined. The study was conducted using both computational and
experimental approaches. Results from both types of research methods were
compared and displayed in graphical form. These results serve as a reference
for determining future research. The experimental results, in the form of the
flow rate for each type of cavity, determined the ability of different cavity
conditions to form vortex rings, whereas in CFD simulations, the formation of
vortex rings was demonstrated via the visualization of flow contours. Vortex
rings occurred in cavity conditions B3, T3, T5, K3 and K5. Vortex rings were
not formed on any type of cavity with an orifice having a diameter of 8 mm.